Rolling iron

ABSTRACT

A rolling iron comprising a handle, means rotatably supporting a cylindrical iron on said handle, and new heating means and support therefor in said iron for heating said iron.

United States Patent 1191 Camarco I ROLLING IRON [76] Inventor: ThomasJ.Camarco,Lakeview Drive, Mahopac, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 231,623 A [52] US. Cl. 38/100 [51] Int. Cl. D061 75/00 [58] Field of Search 38/69, 100; 29/100 [56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,920,406 1/1960 Vigliarolo 38/100 3,340,629 9/1967 Oberrecht 38/l00 July 3, 1973 2,401,820 6/l946 Fairley 38/100 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l.252,l09 l2/I960 France 38/!00 l,l42,898 9/l957 France 38/l00 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson AttorneyLuke A. Mattare et al.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A rolling iron comprising a handle, means rotatably supporting a cylindrical iron on said handle, and new heating means and support therefor in said iron for heating said iron.

21 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJuLa 191a PATENIEUJUL 3 1975 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG. 8.

FIG. 10.

ROLLING IRON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to means for pressing fabrics such as clothing and the like and, more particularly, to a rolling iron which comprises a cylindrical rotating iron mounted on a handle.

Many different types of irons are known in the prior art for ironing fabrics such as clothing and the like. All such prior art irons are relatively complicated and expensive in construction. Moreover, most prior art irons are relatively unwieldy to handle, and deposits such as starch and the like frequently accumulate on the sole plate thereof. The accumulation of deposits, such as starch and the like, on the sole plates of prior art irons and other types of corrosion of the sole plates of prior art irons results in such irons being difficult to slide over the fabric being ironed or pressed, and in extreme cases can even render prior art irons inoperative.

With the present invention, a simple and inexpensive rolling iron is proivded which is easy to handle and which rolls over the material being pressed rather than sliding thereon and, accordingly, the build up of deposits or the like on the rolling iron does not hinder its operation. Moreover, the rolling iron of the present invention has a conical tip thereon which is used to press portions of clothing or other material which are difficult to iron or press with conventional ironing devices. Still further, the rolling iron of the present invention is easy to assemble and disassemble and, accordingly, replacement of broken, worn-out or defective parts is easy and economical to accomplish.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a rolling BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the rolling iron according to the present invention being utilized to iron the cuff of a sleeve on an article of clothing.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the iron of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in elevation of a modified rolling iron according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a rolling iron in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 and comprises a handle 11 made of wood or plastic or other suitable insulating material and a rotatable cylindrical iron 12, having a conical tip 13 on one end thereof, and rotatably connected with the handle 11 by means ofa frame or shank 14 having a first, relatively short portion 15 extending axially from the other end of the ironing cylinder 12 and a second portion 16 extending perpendicularly to portion 15 and extending radially a short distance beyond the circumference of the cylinder. A third portion 17 extends from the end of portion 16 parallel to the cylinder and closely adjacent thereto to approximately the mid-portion of the cylinder and is then bent at right angles away from the cylinder and is joined by a short portion 18 to one end of the handle 11. A suitable electric cord 19 extends through the handle 11 and shank 14 and has a suitable plug means 20 on the end thereof for connecting the iron to a suitable source of electricity. As seen in this figure, the iron is being used to iron the cuffC ofa sleeve S of an article of clothing. The relatively small size of the cylinder 12, and particularly of the conical tip 13, makes ironing of difficult portions of clothing, such as cuff C, easy as compared with conventional ironing devices.

The details of the construction of the rolling iron are best seen in FIGS. 2 through 6, and the ironing cylinder 12 is internally threaded at 21 and 22 at its opposite ends. The conical tip 13 is removable from the cylinder 12 and has a reduced diameter portion 23 externally threaded at 24 for mating cooperation with the threads 21 in one end of the cylinder 12. The other end of the cylinder 12 is threaded onto the marginal edge of a circular disc shaped end cap or wall 25, having external threads 26 thereon cooperatively engaged with the internal threads 22 in said other end of said cylinder 12. The end cap 25 is rotatably mounted on portion 15 of shank 14 and -is secured against axial movement thereon by means of a nut 27 threadably engaged with threads 28 on the forward end of portion 15. An elongate, axially extending center supporting shaft 29 extends forwardly from the portion 15 of shank l4 and in parallel relationship to the portion 17 of the shank. A suitable insulating gasket 30 is interposed between the cap 25 and center support shaft 29 to insulate the shank 14 from the heat of the ironing cylinder 12 and also to prevent electrical current from passing into shank 14. An insulating and supporting plate 31 is held against the inside surface of cap 25 by means of the nut 27 and has a pair of radially spaced, forwardly axially projecting walls 32 and 33 thereon at the peripheral margin thereof. A cap 34 of a suitable electrically conductive material, such as brass or the like, is secured to the free end of center support shaft 29 and is in electrically conductive relationship with cord 19, which extends forwardly through the hollow interior of shaft 29.

A heating unit comprising a plurality of parallel, axially extending, circumferentially spaced, radiant heating elements 35 having converging end portions 36 is supported within ironing cylinder 12. The converging portions 36 are suitably attached to an electrically conductive cap or socket 37 of a suitable material, such as brass or the like, rotatably positioned over the cap 34. The heating elements 35 are spaced radially inwardly a slight distance from the inner surface of cylinder 12 and the converging end portions are spaced slightly inwardly from the inner surface of conical tip 13 and held in predetermined spaced relationship by means of a plurality of insulating supporting discs or washers 38, 39 and 40. As seen best in FIG. 5, each of the discs or washers has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly extending notches or grooves 41 in the marginal edge thereof in which the heating elements 35 are received and supported in spaced relation to the inner surface of cylinder 12. The free ends of heating elements 35 are loosely received between the forwardly projecting walls 32 and 33 of supporting plate 31 at the other end of the cylinder 12 to prevent the heating elements from moving radially relative to shaft 29.

Each of the discs or washers 38, 39 and 40 has a relatively snug fit within the cylinder 12 and, in operation, the cylinder 12, end cap 25, conical tip 13, heating elements 35, discs or washers 38, 39 and 40, support plate 31 and cap 37 all turn as a unit about the center support shaft 29 and cap 34, with the caps 34 and 37 providing electrical contact between the heating elements and the cord 19.

An insulating means 42 is positioned within the tip of conical tip 13 and engages the cap 37 to insure that the cap 37 remains in operative position relative to cap 34 during operation of the iron. The insulating means 42 also prevents electrical current from being conducted into the tip 13 and cylinder 12.

In FIGS. 7 through 10, a modified rolling iron in accordance with the invention is illustrated and comprises a handle having a frame or shank 14 as previously described and a cylindrical iron 12 and conical tip 13 threadably engaged with one another and threaded onto an end cap as in the previous embodiment. In this form of the invention, however, the center shaft 29' extends forwardly through the bushing in end cap 25 and has a bushing 34' on its forward end, said bushing being seated or fixed in a body 42 of insulating material in the tip of the conical portion 13. The end cap 25, cylinder 12, conical tip 13 and bushing 34' are all rotatably mounted for rotation about the center shaft 29. The heating unit comprises a plurality of elongate, parallel circumferentially spaced heating elements such as radiant heating elements or the like held in radially inwardly spaced relationship to the cylinder 12 by means of a plurality of axially spaced insulating discs or washers 38', 39 and The insulating washers are fixed to the center support shaft 29' and are spaced at their periphery from the cylinder 12 to enable the cylinder to rotate therearound. The rearward ends of the heating elements 35' are turned radially inwardly and are connected with an annular ring 43 which is connected with one of the leads 19a of the electrical cord 19. The opposite or forward ends of the heating elements 35' are inwardly inclined at 36' and are joined to a second annular ring 42 which is connected with the other lead 19b of cord 19. The discs or washers 38, 39' and 40 and the heating elements 35 are all fixed to the support shaft 29' against relative rotation therebetween, and the iron simply turns therearound. In this form of the invention, the only moving parts of the iron are the cap 25, cylinder 12 and tip 13 about bushings 30 and 34'.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle is formed of wood and is approximately 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. The shaft 14 is formed of three-eighths inch steel tubing and the cylinder 12 and tip 13 are formed of steel. The over-all length of the rotating portion of the iron is approximately 7% inches and has a diameter of approximately 2 inches. The insulating means 30 and 42 or'42' are of any suitable electrical and heat insulating means, such as plastic or ceramic and the like, as are the insulating and supporting plate 31 and discs or washers 38, 39 and 40 in the FIG. 1 embodiment, or the discs or washers 38', 3 9 and 40' in the FIG. 6 embodiment. Other suitable ma terials than those named could be used in the construction of the iron and the heating elements can be of any suitable type such as presently used in irons or toasters -or the like, or Calrod heating elements may be used.

In assembling the rolling iron of FIGS. 1 through 6, the end cap 25 is inserted over the center support shaft 29 and onto the axially extending portion of 15 of shank 14. The support plate 31 is then placed against the inner surface of end cap 25 and the nut 27 threaded onto threads 28 of center support shaft 29 to hold end cap 25 in predetermined axial relationship on the shaft 29. The heating unit, comprised of heating elements 35, discs or washers 38, 39 and 40 and end cap 37, is then placed over center shaft 29 with the free ends of the heating elements 35 being received between axially projecting walls 32 and 33 of support plate 31 and the end cap 37 received over cap 34. The cylinder 12 is then positioned over the heating unit and threads 22 are threaded onto threads 26 of the end cap 25. The tip 13 may either be threaded onto the cylinder 12 prior to the cylinder 12 being positioned over the heating unit or the conical tip 13 may be threaded onto the end of cylinder 12 after the cylinder 12 is threadably engaged with the cap 25.

In assembling the rolling iron of FIGS. 7 through 10, the end cap 25 is positioned over the center shaft 29' and onto the bushing 30. The nut 27 is then threaded thereon to secure the end cap 25 and bushing 30 in position on the center shaft 29. The discs or washers 38', 39 and 40 and the heating elements 35 are then positioned on the center shaft with the annular ring 43 disposed closely adjacent nut 27, and the frictional engagement between the discs or washers and the center support shaft prevents relative movement between the discs or washers and heating elements and the center support shaft. Bushing or cap 34' is then placed on the end of center support shaft and the cylinder and conical tip are placed over the heating elements and support shaft and threaded to the cap 25, the wires 19a and 19b having first been connected to the annular rings 43 and 42.-

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A rolling iron comprising a handle, means rotatably supporting a cylindrical iron on said handle, and heating means in said iron for heating said iron, a plurality of spaced apart discs in the cylindrical iron extending substantially throughout the length thereof, a plurality of elongated heating elements spaced about the discs, each disc including a plurality of means spaced about its periphery to maintain each heating element in its spaced apart relationship on said discs, and said heating elements being adjacent an interior surface of the cylindrical iron.

2. A rolling iron as in claim 1, wherein said means supporting said iron on saidhandle comprises an elongate tubular shank, including a first portion extending axially from the end of said ironing cylinder, a second portion extending perpendicularly from said first portion and projecting radially a slight distance beyond the circumference of said ironing cylinder, a third portion extending perpendicularly from said second portion and parallel to said ironing cylinder and having a length approximately one half the length of said ironing cylinder, and a fourth portion extending perpendicularly from said third portion and parallel to said second portion, said fourth portion connected axially at one end thereof to one end of said handle, and an elongate support shaft extending forwardly from the end of said first portion in parallel relationship to said third portion, said ironing cylinder being rotatably supported on said fourth portion in parallel relationship to said third portion of said shank and perpendicular to said handle, with the axis of the handle intersecting the mid-portion of the axis of said ironing cylinder.

3. A rolling iron as in claim 1, wherein said ironing cylinder comprises a hollow cylinder having a conical tip on one end thereof, said heating means supported within said hollow cylinder and conical tip in radially spaced relationship thereto.

4. A rolling iron as in claim 3, wherein said heating means comprises a plurality of axially extending, parallel, circumferentially spaced heating elements supported in radially spaced relationship within said ironing cylinder and conical tip.

5. A rolling iron as in claim 4, wherein said heating elements are radiant heating elements and include converging portions at one end thereof extending substantially parallel to the slope of the conical tip of said iron, said converging portions attached to an electrically conductive means rotatably positioned on one end of said support shaft in electrically conductive relationship with a suitable electrical conduit within said sup port shaft, said conduit extending through said shank and through said handle to a suitable source of electricity.

6. A rolling iron as in claim 5, wherein said plurality of heating elements are supported in radially spaced relationship to said ironing cylinder by means of a plurality of axially spaced insulating discs means in supporting engagement with said plurality of heating elements.

7. A rolling iron as in claim 6, wherein a disc-shaped end wall is in said other end of said ironing cylinder, said end wall secured to said first portion of said shank against relative axial movement therebetween but in a manner enabling rotation of said end wall relative to said first portion of said shank.

8. A rolling iron as in claim 7, wherein said ironing cylinder, said end cap, said conical tip, said heating elements and said insulating discs are all mounted for rotation as a unit about said support shaft.

9. A rolling iron as in claim 8, wherein an electrically conductive cap is on said one end of said support shaft in electrically conductive relationship with said conduit therein, and said electrically conductive cap to which said heating elements are secured is rotatably engaged on said cap on said support shaft to establish electrical connection between said conduit and said heating elements.

10. A rolling iron as in claim 9, wherein electrical and heat insulating means is interposed between said end wall at said other end of said ironing cylinder and said first portion of said shank and between said electrically conductive cap and said conical cap tip of said rolling iron.

11. A rolling iron as in claim 10, wherein a plurality of equally spaced notches are in the peripheral edge portions of said discs, said plurality of heating elements being received and supported in said notches.

12. A rolling iron as in claim 11, wherein said ironing cylinder is threadably engaged on said end wall.

13. A rolling iron as in claim 12, wherein said conical tip is threadably engaged within said one end of said ironing cylinder.

14. A rolling iron as in claim 13, wherein said ironing cylinder and conical tip are removable as a unit from said support shaft and said heating elements.

15. A rolling iron as in claim 14, wherein said heating elements, said electrically conductive cap and said supporting insulating disc means are removable as a unit from said support shaft.

16. A rolling iron as in claim 4, wherein siad heating elements are radiant heating elements and include converging portions at one end thereof extending substantially parallel to the slope of the conical tip of said iron, said converging portions attached to an annular ring connected in electrically conductive relationship with a source of electricity, and said heating elements connected at their other end by means of a plurality of radially extending portions to a second annular ring connected in electrically conductive relationship with said source of electricity.

17. A rolling iron as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of heating elements are supported in radially spaced relationship to said ironing cylinder, by means of a plurality of axially spaced insulating disc means in supporting engagement with said plurality of heating elements, said disc means being spaced radially inwardly from said ironing cylinder and fixed to said center support shaft.

18. A rolling iron as in claim 17, wherein said ironing cylinder, said end cap and said conical tip are mounted for rotation as a unit about said support shaft and heating elements.

19. A rolling iron as in claim 1, wherein said handle includes an elongate center support shaft extending centrally within said cylinder and substantially commcnsurate in length therewith, said cylinder rotatably mounted at its opposite ends on said support shaft, and said heating elements are held in spaced apart, generally parallel relationship by a plurality of axially spaced apart disc means received over said shaft.

20. A rolling iron as in claim 19, wherein said disc means, said heating elements and said cylinder rotate around said shaft.

21. A rolling iron as in claim 19, wherein said disc means and said heating elements are fixed to said shaft against relative rotation therebetween, and said cylinder rotates around said washer means, said heating elements and said shaft.

\l t 4* I 

1. A rolling iron comprising a handle, means rotatably supporting a cylindrical iron on said handle, and heating means in said iron for heating said iron, a plurality of spaced apart discs in the cylindrical iron extending substantially throughout the length thereof, a plurality of elongated heating elements spaced about the discs, each disc including a plurality of means spaced about its periphery to maintain each heating element in its spaced apart relationship on said discs, and said heating elements being adjacent an interior surface of the cylindrical iron.
 2. A rolling iron as in claim 1, wherein said means supporting said iron on said handle comprises an elongate tubular shank, including a first portion extending axially from the end of said ironing cylinder, a second portion extending perpendicularly from said first portion and projecting radially a slight distance beyond the circumference of said ironing cylinder, a third portion extending perpendicularly from said second portion and parallel to said ironing cylinder and having a length approximately one half the length of said ironing cylinder, and a fourth portion extending perpendicularly from said third portion and parallel to said second portion, said fourth portion connected axially at one end thereof to one end of said handle, and an elongate support shaft extending forwardly from the end of said first portion in parallel relationship to said third portion, said ironing cylinder being rotatably supported on said fourth portion in parallel relationship to said third portion of said shank and perpendicular to said handle, with the axis of the handle intersecting the mid-portion of the axis of said ironing cylinder.
 3. A rolling iron as in claim 1, wherein said ironing cylinder comprises a hollow cylinder having a conical tip on one end thereof, said heating means supported within said hollow cylinder and Conical tip in radially spaced relationship thereto.
 4. A rolling iron as in claim 3, wherein said heating means comprises a plurality of axially extending, parallel, circumferentially spaced heating elements supported in radially spaced relationship within said ironing cylinder and conical tip.
 5. A rolling iron as in claim 4, wherein said heating elements are radiant heating elements and include converging portions at one end thereof extending substantially parallel to the slope of the conical tip of said iron, said converging portions attached to an electrically conductive means rotatably positioned on one end of said support shaft in electrically conductive relationship with a suitable electrical conduit within said support shaft, said conduit extending through said shank and through said handle to a suitable source of electricity.
 6. A rolling iron as in claim 5, wherein said plurality of heating elements are supported in radially spaced relationship to said ironing cylinder by means of a plurality of axially spaced insulating discs means in supporting engagement with said plurality of heating elements.
 7. A rolling iron as in claim 6, wherein a disc-shaped end wall is in said other end of said ironing cylinder, said end wall secured to said first portion of said shank against relative axial movement therebetween but in a manner enabling rotation of said end wall relative to said first portion of said shank.
 8. A rolling iron as in claim 7, wherein said ironing cylinder, said end cap, said conical tip, said heating elements and said insulating discs are all mounted for rotation as a unit about said support shaft.
 9. A rolling iron as in claim 8, wherein an electrically conductive cap is on said one end of said support shaft in electrically conductive relationship with said conduit therein, and said electrically conductive cap to which said heating elements are secured is rotatably engaged on said cap on said support shaft to establish electrical connection between said conduit and said heating elements.
 10. A rolling iron as in claim 9, wherein electrical and heat insulating means is interposed between said end wall at said other end of said ironing cylinder and said first portion of said shank and between said electrically conductive cap and said conical cap tip of said rolling iron.
 11. A rolling iron as in claim 10, wherein a plurality of equally spaced notches are in the peripheral edge portions of said discs, said plurality of heating elements being received and supported in said notches.
 12. A rolling iron as in claim 11, wherein said ironing cylinder is threadably engaged on said end wall.
 13. A rolling iron as in claim 12, wherein said conical tip is threadably engaged within said one end of said ironing cylinder.
 14. A rolling iron as in claim 13, wherein said ironing cylinder and conical tip are removable as a unit from said support shaft and said heating elements.
 15. A rolling iron as in claim 14, wherein said heating elements, said electrically conductive cap and said supporting insulating disc means are removable as a unit from said support shaft.
 16. A rolling iron as in claim 4, wherein said heating elements are radiant heating elements and include converging portions at one end thereof extending substantially parallel to the slope of the conical tip of said iron, said converging portions attached to an annular ring connected in electrically conductive relationship with a source of electricity, and said heating elements connected at their other end by means of a plurality of radially extending portions to a second annular ring connected in electrically conductive relationship with said source of electricity.
 17. A rolling iron as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of heating elements are supported in radially spaced relationship to said ironing cylinder by means of a plurality of axially spaced insulating disc means in supporting engagement with said plurality of heating elements, said disc means being spaced raDially inwardly from said ironing cylinder and fixed to said center support shaft.
 18. A rolling iron as in claim 17, wherein said ironing cylinder, said end cap and said conical tip are mounted for rotation as a unit about said support shaft and heating elements.
 19. A rolling iron as in claim 1, wherein said handle includes an elongate center support shaft extending centrally within said cylinder and substantially commensurate in length therewith, said cylinder rotatably mounted at its opposite ends on said support shaft, and said heating elements are held in spaced apart, generally parallel relationship by a plurality of axially spaced apart disc means received over said shaft.
 20. A rolling iron as in claim 19, wherein said disc means, said heating elements and said cylinder rotate around said shaft.
 21. A rolling iron as in claim 19, wherein said disc means and said heating elements are fixed to said shaft against relative rotation therebetween, and said cylinder rotates around said washer means, said heating elements and said shaft. 